Multipurpose air supply system

ABSTRACT

Air supply is provided by a network of longitudinal channel valves. Each channel valve includes a longitudinal channel member having an opening in the top wall thereof. Another longitudinal member seated against the underside of the top wall hermetically seals the channel member except when depressed by a plunger from an air cushion support vehicle or by fixed depressors.

United States Patent 381,401 4/1888 Mayall Laddie L. Stahl Rexford, N.Y.

Dec. 12, 1968 May 25, 1971 General Electric Company Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee MULTIPURPOSE AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM 5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 214/1BE, 180/119, 104/23FS, 137/580 Int. Cl B60r 3/04 Field of Search 214/1 (AB); 104/23 (FS), 134, 135; 239/576, 577, 534, 535; ISO/(Inquired); 302/(1nquired); 193/(1nquired) References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,250,573 5/1966 Clarke et al. 2l4/1(AB)X 3,283,920 11/1966 Schonfelder et al.. 2l4/1(AB) 3,012,574 12/1961 Baker et a1 137/580 3,326,234 6/1967 Baker et a1 137/580 FOREIGN PATENTS 707,612 4/1965 Canada 214/l(AB) Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner Attorneys-Paul A. Frank, John F. Ahem, Julius J.

Zaskalicky, Frank L. Neuhauser, Melvin M. Goldenberg and Oscar B. Waddell ABSTRACT: Air supply is provided by a network of longitudinal channel valves. Each channel valve includes a longitu- -dinal channel member having an opening in the top wall thereof. Another longitudinal member seated against the underside of the top wall hermetically seals the channel member except when depressed by a plunger from an air cushion support vehicle or by fixed depressors.

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MULTIPURPOSE AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM The present invention relates in general to systems for supplying air to conveyors which are supported by a cushion of air tapped from the system and for supplying air for other purposes as well as concurrently therewith. In particular, the

present invention relates to valves and valve systems and the cooperative association of conveyors therewith in a material handling system, particularly for enabling selected energiza tion of the valves.

Heretofore, in air film or cushion material handling systems the entire area of a floor over which it is desired to move an air supported vehicle was studded with valves which could be selectively energized either by back pressure produced by the vehicle or by mechanical contact between the vehicle and mechanical members on the individual valves. Such an .arrangernent required that the entire floor area to be provided with valves and either a large chamber or a series of discrete ducts to be provided to furnish air under pressure to the valves. Such an arrangement is complex, involves many parts and is expensive.

The present invention is directed to providing air film material handling systems of the character described which are simple, easy to construct and relatively inexpensive. In addition, the present invention is directed to the provision of a system which may concurrently serve to provide air for other purposes such as cooling, heating or ventilating a building.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple yet highly effective air supply system for enabling selective tapping of air therefrom for support of an air cushion vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple guide means for use in connection .with an air supply for guiding an air cushion vehicle therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve arrangement in an air supply system which is easily and selectively energizable by an air cushion vehicle to obtain the air suction support therefor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improvements in value actuating and guide structures for use on air support vehicles for cooperating with the air supply system to enable air to be selectively tapped therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated system in which ventilation, cooling or heating is provided in addition to supplying air to an air support vehicle.

It is a further object to provide a valve system which is readily portable and need not be integral with the floor on which it is used.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention there is provided a plurality of longitudinal channel members lying in a plane and formed into two groups. The channel members in each of said groups are spaced from one another and arranged in parallel. The channel members in one group are oriented transverse with respect to the channel members of the other group and each of the channel members in one group are joined to each of the channel members of the other group at the regions of intersection thereof to provide cross linked passageways.

Each of said longitudinal channel members having a top wall including a pair of longitudinal side portions transversely spaced to form a longitudinalopening therein. A plurality of longitudinal sealing members is provided, each adapted to mate with the underside of the top wall of a respective channel member to close the longitudinal opening thereof. Also, a plurality of support means, each for maintaining a respective longitudinal sealing member against the underside of a cooperating top wall.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings iii which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a warehouse showing a grid system of valves and guides for providing a source of air in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a small section of the floor of FIG. 1 taken along section lines 2-2 showing the structure of the longitudinal valve used in the system.

FIG. 3 is also a cross-sectional view of a section of the floor shown in FIG. 2 and an air cushion support vehicle in operative association therewith.

FIG. 4 shows one form of junction which could be used for joining the valves at the intersections thereof.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an air cushion vehicle having the plunger thereof retracted and the stationary supports thereof released for supporting the vehicle in a fixed position.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of an air cushion vehicle supported on a floor having the longitudinal valve which is rectangular in cross section, may be portable, and'in which separate vehicle guide means are provided.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the longitudinal valve of the present invention in which spring members are provided to retain a flexible center section of the valve system in a normally closed position and in which the flexible center section is selectively detachable in operation from the top of the valve channel.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a longitudinal valve in which ribs are used to maintain the valve open to provide bleed air therefrom.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the longitudinal valve of FIG. 8.

Referring now to FIG. I, there is shown an air supply grid system 10 for supplying air from the floor of a warehouse for supporting an air cushion vehicle (not shown) and also for providing air for such purposes as ventilating, heating, or cooling. The system includes a plurality of longitudinal ducts or channels 11 extending in one direction and a plurality of Iongitudinal ducts or channels 12 extending in a direction at right angles thereto. The ducts are connected at the intersection thereof as will be more fully described in connection with FIG. 4. The channels are provided with means for enabling selective energization thereof by an air cushion vehicle in the vicinity thereof, as will be more apparent from consideration of other figures of this disclosure to be described below.

An air pressure source such as an air-conditioning plant or a heating plant 13 for a building may be used for providing air under pressure for the channels or ducts 11 and 12, as well as for providing cooling or heating air to the building in a manner to be more fully described below. The pressure may be supplied from a manifold 14 which has feeders 15 at spaced points therealong connected to the grid system 10 to assure good pressure throughout the system. In the system of FIG. 1 the channels 11 and 12 may be either recessed or embedded in the floor or in portable form, as will be more fully described below. Some of the longitudinal channels may extend out to a loading ramp for facilitating load from a truck which may have a similar air supply system.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of one of the channel members 11 taken along section line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in its normally closed position. The channel member 11 has a rigid top wall consisting of side 21 and side 22. The sides 21 and 22 are spaced to provide an opening 23 in the channel member. The channel member is provided with a planar flexible member 24 which fits into the opening 23 defined by the sidewalls 21 and 22 of the top wall of the channel member. A pair of resilient longitudinal members 25 and 26 are provided. One side of the resilient longitudinal member 25 is connected to the underside of the side portion 21 of the top wall at a region remote from the opening 23 and the other side of the resilient member 25 is connected to the flexible member 24. Similarly, one side of the flexible member 26 is connected to the other side 22 of the top wall member at a location remote from the central opening 23 and the other side of the resilient member 26 is connected to the flexible member 24. Each of the resilient members 25 and 26 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal perforations 27 along the length thereof. It will be appreciated that the resilient members and 26 may be made as one piece and securedat its center to the longitudinal flexible member 24. The sidewall portions 21 and 22 of the top wall are supported by a base member 28 to complete the channel. Air pressure within the channel supports the resilient members 25 and 26 against the sides 21 and 22 of the top wall and maintains the flexible member 24 in a closed position in the opening 23 when not depressed. The resilient members 25 and 26 may be made of a plastic material which has a certain degree of stiffness yet will permit flexing. As considerable flexing in the region thereof adjacent to region of attachment to top wall would be experienced in the operation of the valve, a material which will provide good hinging action without fatiguing is preferred. The flexible member 24 preferably is made of a material which is firm in the transverse direction and flexible in longitudinal direction thereof and has good wear qualities, The channel member 11 may be embedded in the floor 29, with the flexible member 24 of the valve flush with the floor. as shown.

The manner of operation of the channel valve member of FIG. 2 will be readily apparent from a consideration of FIG. 3 which shows the channel valve member of FIG. 2 in an open position supplying air to an air support cushion vehicle 30. The elements of FIG. 3 representing corresponding elements of FIG. 2 are denoted by the same numeral. The air cushion support vehicle 30 is provided with an underside 31 contoured to make effective use of air supplied thereto from the channel member 11 and includes a plunger or depressor member 32 having at one end an axle 33 on which is mounted a pair of wheels 34 and 35 which engage the longitudinal flexible member 24. The plunger 32 is actuated by lever 36 mechanically interconnected therewith by a mechanical linkage collectively designated 37. Simultaneously, with the downward actuation of the plunger 32 to provide air for the vehicle 30, feet 38 from the vehicle for support thereof are retracted by the mechanical linkage 37. Any number of mechanisms known to those skilled in the art for retracting a plunger and concurrently advancing a plurality of rods or legs in response to a lever motion may be used to perform the indicated functions. With the plunger 32 in the position shown, the resilient members 26 and 27 are separated from the side portions 21 and 22 of the top wall and air under pressure in the channel member 11 escapes through perforations 27 in the flexible member as shown by arrows 39 and pass to the underside 31 of the support vehicle providing an air film or cushion for the support thereof, thereby making it easy to move the vehicle 30 about along the opening 23 in the upper valve. The opening 23 in cooperative engagement with the wheels 34 and 35 provides a guide for the motion of the vehicle 30. Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a top view of an intersection or a junction 40 of a valve member 41 extending in one direction with a valve member 42 extending in a direction at right angles thereof. Longitudinal member 41 may correspond to longitudinal member 11 and transverse member 42 may correspond to transverse member 12 of FIG. I. The sides of the top walls and the base portions of longitudinal members 41 and 42 are joined to provide good air passage through the intersection. The movable flexible members 43 and 44 of respective valve members 41 and 42 are joined. The resilient members of the valve members 41 and 42, corresponding to resilient members 25 and 26 of FIG. 2, are also joined to allow complete freedom of movement of the flexible members 42 and 43 at the intersection thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 5 there is shown a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 3 with the plunger 32 retracted and pivoted to a position at the right angles to its position in FIG. 3 and longitudinal valve member 11 closed. The plunger 32 has a cross piece on whichthe axles 33 are supported along the length thereof. Pairs of wheels 34 and 35 are provided on the axles 33 to perform the depressing and guiding function as described in connection with FIG. 3. A pivot or swivel joint 51 is provided for the plunger member 32 to change the orientation of the plunger from one direction to another direction normal to it to enable the vehicle 30 to change direction from one channel to another channel. Preferably, the separation of the channels in the longitudinal and in the transverse directions in the grid network of FIG. 1 is made on the order of the width of the conveyor to provide complete flexibility with respect to the positioning of the conveyor and the movement of the conveyor from any location on the floor to any other location desired. Preferably, the plunger 32 is centrally spaced on the conveyor so that the conveyor may be spaced to take full benefit of floor space. In operation, when an intersection is reached the stationary feet 38 are lowered by movement of the lever 36 retracting-the plunger 32 from the guiding opening 23, the plunger is swiveled to the desired orientation and then engagement is provided with a guiding opening in another channel. The plunger 32 consists of a plurality roller members 34 and 35 depending upon the longitudinal extent of the channel member 11 desired to be activated which in turn is governed by the volume and pressure flow desired.

Of course the volume and pressure of flow is also governed by the depth of depression of the resilient member which may be variable by suitable design of the plunger. In place of a pivotable plunger a pair of plunger members oriented at right angles to one another may be provided.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a cross-sectional view of an air cushion support vehicle 30 supported on an air cushion provided by a portable channel of a construction similar to the construction of the in-floor channel of FIG. 2. In this figure a top platform 55 is provided having a pair of side portions 56 and 57 spaced to provide a central longitudinal opening 58 therein. The underside of the top platform has secured to it a U-shaped channel 59 which may rest on the floor of a warehouse or in gutters therein. A flexible longitudinal member 24 is provided in the opening 58. A continuous.

and pliable resilient member 54 having perforations located in the side portions thereof corresponding to resilient members 25 and 26 of FIG. 2 is provided. Each of the ends of the resilient member 54 are secured to a respective underside of side portions 56 and 57 remote from the opening 58. The central portion of the member 54 is secured to the flexible member 24 enabling the latter to move vertically in the opening 28 in response to the action of the plunger 32. The air cushion support vehicle 30 with the plunger 32 and stationary supports 38 are in general similar to the corresponding members of FIG. 4 and corresponding parts are designated with the same numerical designation. In this figure a simple roller 60 is attached to the plunger 32 and the vehicle guiding function is obtained by a separate guide channel 61 provided on one side of the channel member 59 and a pair of cooperating guide studs 62 each with a roller 63 thereon.

Referring now to FIG. 7 there is shown a perspective view of another form of a channel valve member 65 which may be used in a system such as set forth in FIG. 1. The channel valve member 65 includes a top wall 66 or platform portion having a pair of side portions 67 and 68 spaced to provide an opening 69 therein. The opening 68 is fitted with member 70 flexible in the longitudinal direction. The flexible member 70 is in turn supported on a relatively stiff planar member 71 which along each side thereof is supported by a plurality of spring members 72. One end of the springs 72 is secured to member 71 and the other end is supported in the base of a U-shaped duct 73. The upper portions of the U-shaped duct 73 are secured to the top wall 66 of the platform. The planar member 71 is not secured to the side portions but is suitably seated against the side portions by the action of the springs and pressure within the channel member to provide a suitable hermetic seal. Depression of members 70 and 71 by a plunger causes separation of the planar member 71 from the top wall 66 and allows air to escape through the opening provided thereby. The arrangement of FIG. 7 enables larger volumes of flow to be obtained from the channel valve.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown, respectively, a sectional and top view of the channel valve such as the channel member of FIG. 6 in which in addition is provided a rib structure for furnishing bleed airflow through the valve for such purposes as ventilating, cooling or heating. A plurality of ribs 75 are provided secured to the side portions 56 and 57 of the top wall 77 to bias or maintain the flexible member 24 into a partially open position. In this figure the ribs 75 secured to one top wall portion are equally spaced therealong and have a depth depending upon the amount of bleed flow desired. it will be appreciated that other means may be used for maintaining the flexible member 24 depressed over a limited longitudinal extent to provide bleed airflow. For example, adjustable spring members located between the bottom of the channel member 59 and the flexible member 24 may provide the desired degree of opening. The arrangement would limit the upward travel of the flexible member 24 while permitting downward travel in response to the action of a depressor of an air cushion vehicle. The extent of depression in depth and longitudinally of the flexible member of a valve member would depend upon the system requirements. The regions of the grid structure of FIG. 1 which are depressed in accordance with the arrangements of FIG. 9 would vary depending upon the requirements of the building.

While l have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made in the structural arrangement shown and in the instrumentalitics employed.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A material handling system for supporting articles and facilitating the movement thereof comprising:

a longitudinal channel member having a top wall including a pair of longitudinal side portions spaced to form a longitudinal opening in said channel member;

a flexible longitudinal member;

a pair of resilient longitudinal members each secured to said flexible member and each secured to the underside of a respective side portion of said top wall at a region remote from said longitudinal opening, each of said resilient members having perforations between the regions of attachment to said side portions and to said flexible member; said flexible member being proportioned to fit in said opening and said resilient members being adapted to seat against the under surface of said side portions to cover said perforations; and

means for applying air under pressure to said channel member to seat said resilient members against the underside of said top wall to hermetically seal said longitudinal channel member in the absence of a counteracting force on said other longitudinal member.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a conveyor member having an under surface adapted to be supported by a film of air, a plunger member adapted to be depressed to engage and move said flexible longitudinal member in relation thereto to allow air under pressure from said opening in the vicinity of the region at which flexible member is depressed to escape therefrom to provide air cushion support to the underside of said conveyor member.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which said plunger member is terminated in a roller member which engages the flexible member.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which the side portions of said opening and said plunger member form a guiding system for said conveyor.

5. The combination of claim 1 in which said plunger member is pivotally mounted on said conveyor member to allow change of orientation of said plunger member. 

1. A material handling system for supporting articles and facilitating the movement thereof comprising: a longitudinal channel member having a top wall including a pair of longitudinal side portions spaced to form a longitudinal opening in said channel member; a flexible longitudinal member; a pair of resilient longitudinal members each secured to said flexible member and each secured to the underside of a respective side portion of said top wall at a region remote from said longitudinal opening, each of said resilient members having perforations between the regions of attachment to said side portions and to said flexible member; said flexible member being proportioned to fit in said opening and said resilient members being adapted to seat against the under surface of said side portions to cover said perforations; and means for applying air under pressure to said channel member to seat said resilient members against the underside of said top wall to hermetically seal said longitudinal channel member in the absence of a counteracting force on said other longitudinal member.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including a conveyor member having an under surface adapted to be supported by a film of air, a plunger member adapted to be depressed to engage and move said flexible longitudinal member in relation thereto to allow air under pressure from said opening in the vicinity of the region at which flexible member is depressed to escape therefrom to provide air cushion support to the underside of said conveyor member.
 3. The combination of claim 1 in which said plunger member is terminated in a roller member which engages the flexible member.
 4. The combination of claim 1 in which the side portions of said opening and said plunger member form a guiding system for said conveyor.
 5. The combination of claim 1 in which said plunger member is pivotally mounted on said conveyor member to allow change of orientation of said plunger member. 